Violet's only companion died today - and it's freezing

[yogamebird]

I would LOVE to have the coop connected to the house! What a perfect dream.

Girls are still in the garage. Violet is being really nasty. I can understand "me first" with the food thing, but Violet's attitude is "you ain't gonna eat!" Tilly seems desperate and is pecking for crumbs on the floor of the crate.

I made a makeshift perch by shoving a narrow board sideways through the crate but I have no way of knowing whether they are using it or not.

I have to figure out a feeding plan and would appreciate suggestions. I really can't think one chicken would literally starve the other one out! Does that ever happen?

 

[yogamebird]

Tilly laid an egg!! Her first since she's moved here. However, it was in the dog crate on the floor lying in spilled water diluted chicken poop. Is it ok to eat? I was able to easily gently wipe it off with a paper towel.

I wish I could easily clean the crate! It's frozen outside and it's going down to 9 tonight. I'm sure they are getting stir crazy in there and it's kind of gross but I know their aesthetics are a bit different from mine.

 

[Acornewell]

I am sure that Violet is just trying to keep her top spot between the two of them. Have you thought a bit more about getting one of Tilly's friends?

As far as food goes, the more room you can give them the better. I have 12 Chickens in my barn coop, and I have little food bowls stashed everywhere. Its like they play musical chairs, only with bowls.

Are you using a bowl, or a feeder?

Maybe you need one that has the multiple holes in it. We hang our main feeder so when there is an incoming bossy bird, they have time to run around to dodge them.

I thought this was a cool feeder, So they cant see each other?!?

As long as you washed the egg, I would eat it!

 

[yogamebird]

That is a cool feeder! For our coop we have one of those tall feeders that spill down into a circular trough. ..way easier than the dog crate setup as a bird could get on either side and not interfere with one another. In the dog crate, I toss them each a bowl of food and they tend to step on them and tip them There's actually food left in one of the bowls so I think they are getting enough. I see that Tilly is getting a bit feisty about claiming her right to food - it's so good to see.

The dog crate is gross. But as far forward as they can predict is it going to be brutally cold so we've decided to keep them in the garage until we at least have a night that's not below 20 degrees - there will be one night at the end of a ten day span going forward, but the following night it's expected to be 8 degrees. I peeked in the garage and Tilly was sitting on the makeshift perch we jammed through the dog crate. I realized to my disappointment that I had placed it above their water dispenser. Arrgh live and learn.

Tomorrow it's the Clorox wipes, clean straw and I'm going to try to make some kind of nest box for Tilly. I long for a day above freezing where we can air everything out and clean everything - and maybe get them back in the coop.

As for getting more of Tilly's flockmates, I am concerned about the tight quarters of the dog crate for introducing one at this point. But I still like the idea of getting at least one more of her flockmates.

 

[Acornewell]

It is always tough to see my girls pick on each other. I really do think its just their pecking order. I do think space is key for peace in a flock. I always try to put a bunch of "toys" mainly old chairs, sticks, I even made a swing which I have yet to see anyone brave enough to try. I hang cabbage or lettuce. I think once you add some new birds in the spring it will take all the focus off of Tilly. Its good to hear she is getting a bit feisty. I am sure all the kinks will work themselves out.

I too am SO ready for Spring too. Have you thought about getting chicks sooner than later? I always like to brood my chicks inside in the winter, so they are ready (big enough) to go outside in the spring with the big gals...Just a thought.

Ooh also, just in my honest opinion I HATE STRAW! I use pine shavings which lasts WAY longer...costs about $4.99 at any farm store...it absorbs the wetness from the poo, and also absorbs the smell, and you can freshen it up by sprinkling a layer on top of the old in the winter. Straw seems to just let the wet poo sit on top of it! It also composts very nicely and quickly!

Just some thoughts! Stay warm! We have a winter storm warning today to Monday! Ick

Only 7-11 inches...which is not too bad, we did live in Alaska for a few years so that is like a light dusting!

 

[LipsChicks]

I also use just the pine shavings. I've only used shavings in my coop all winter. When I have to keep one inside, though, I use newspaper. It's easier to clean all in one piece. Spring is on the way!!

 

[featheredflock]

All is not well in paradise!!  Violet is not only not letting Tilly eat, she is going out of her way to do it. Tilly has been afraid to venture into the run; she has not left the coop in over a week! I'll put a little piece of cheese in the far end of the run for Violet, and one IN the coop for Tilly. Violet will start on her cheese and abandon it to run into the coop to co-opt Tilly's piece. I find I have to close the door to the coop to let Tilly eat. Poor girl is so sweet and docile.

Here's my question. Some of Tilly's former flockmates may still be available. Would it make sense to go get another chicken to give poor Tilly some power in numbers? or could it make matters worse by stirring up the pot and possibly putting Tilly at the very bottom of the totem pole. Tilly's breeders have told us that all the chickens in the flock are gentle and docile.

So is it OK to give them dairy products? I read somewhere they wasn't to have dairy? I often wanted to try it as a treat but was to scared to after reading not to. I will be getting me some spring g chic and was just curious

 

[yogamebird]

I had not heard that it wasn't. The person who gave gave us the original chickens said they loved it. It's a rare treat in small doses. but this is worth checking out.

 

[KayTee]

My girls LOVE dairy products! The high fat stuff (camembert etc.) they only get in very small quantities as a special treat, but the low fat stuff (cottage cheese, yogurt etc) I give them quite regularly. I especially give them Activia yogurts, which are as good for their gut flora as they are for ours.

However, one warning - if you put a bowl of yogurt or cottage cheese down for your girls, make sure you stand well back as they eat it - the stuff flies absolutely everywhere!

My 3 original girls enjoying a bowl of cottage cheese:

 

[yogamebird]

I found that with tiny cubes of cheddar, I can lure the girls back into the coop after they've been out in the yard stretching their legs.

Yesterday I spent hours setting up the garage winter hen motel! Took all your advice and ditched the straw - (Gross and slimy!) and scraped the floor of the (cage-type) crate and replaced it with fresh pine shavings. While doing that, we erected a makeshift chicken run out of a portable folding dog pen and put the girls there. The crate was picture perfect before I put the girls back in. I wish I had taken a picture because within one minute they had flung all the shavings through the walls of the cage and all over the garage! So then I took strips of styrene and wove it in and out of the lower half of the crate. Most of the shavings stay in the crate now. I then drilled holes in two plastic bowls and wired them to the sides of the cage. The minute Violet tries to block Tilly from eating, she immediately switches to the other bowl. Very proud of my handiwork! The site is giving me an eternal busy circle as I try to upload a photo - but you get the picture!